Watson bows out of singles

HEATHER WATSON let a match point slip as she was knocked out of the Italian Open girls' singles in Milan yesterday.

The Sarnian started slowly against American Mallory Burdette and lost the first set 6-3.

However, Watson responded brilliantly and played an excellent second set, winning it 6-1.

She began the third in similiar vein, establishing a 2-0 lead early on.

She then led 5-3 and at 5-4 she reached match point but was unable to convert it and Burdette took full advantage, going on to win the set 7-6 by virtue of winning the tiebreak 7-4.

Overall, Watson's first-serve percentage in the first and third sets let her down and she came up with too many unforced errors for her own liking.